Water Relations Of Some Woodlice (Oniscidea) From Arid And Mesic Environments

Abstract

The desert woodlouse Porcellio evansi from Bahrain and Qatar has a transpiration rate as low or lower than recorded from other desert species. The synanthropic mesic Porsellionides pruinosus has a much higher rate, while the temperate region pill woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare has a rate that is intermediated between those of the other two species. It is lower in recently killed than in living specimens, and lower still in dead, rolled—up individuals.